“I stood in that supermarket for almost an hour. I kept picking things up and putting them back. I thought maybe I could pay for something small.”
His voice broke.
“But I didn’t have enough.”
He looked at Adam.
“I know what I did was wrong. I spent my whole life trying to be an honest man.”
Adam sat quietly for several moments.
Then he said:
“Mr. Reed, before we talk about punishment, let’s talk about how we can make sure you never have to steal food again.”
The old man looked up.
He seemed uncertain whether he had heard correctly.
“What?”
Adam repeated himself.
“You’ve admitted what happened. Now we need to understand what support is available to you.”
He explained that he would help Thomas seek an appropriate legal resolution while also connecting him with local assistance services.
He contacted a social worker.
He requested information about food programs for older adults.
